Traveling Memories

Our Easter dinner was enjoyed on the road and consisted of Lunchables + McDonald's ice cream cones. Yum! When we drove up to the McDonald's drive thru the kids saw the play area and asked to go in. Nope. While Grandpa was ordering our cones Charlotte sweetly asked Grandpa if he could ask the "man in the speaker" if they would PLEASE let us in to play. Still no dice.

I thought my most challenging {logistics related} moment came when trying to figure out how to get us all to use the rest area bathroom in a sanitary fashion. But that turned out to be a piece of cake compared to convincing Charlotte to come down from the top of the McDonald's play area WITHOUT me and Hannah climbing up there!

Upon our arrival at our house, Charlotte hopped down from her carseat, turned around, looked at her carseat that she had just ridden in for 750 miles and excitedly exclaimed, "Mama this is my new seat!". Umm, what? No, not new. Definitely crumb coated and old!

The day after we returned from SD Isaiah asked me, "Mom how long were we at Ella and Isaac's house?". One week buddy. Why? "Because we were there so long it felt like we moved there. I liked it." Me too. I liked it too buddy.

Today while unpacking our bags I discovered not one but TWO books I had packed for myself! I then had a good laugh at my pre-trip self for thinking I would have time to read for fun while traveling with my kids without my husband! Although this book is something I really should read...

In case anyone was wondering the bathroom strategy was as follows:
1. Isaiah goes to the bathroom.
2. Isaiah sits on the floor holding Hannah in his lap (in order for 3-5 to occur) with strict instructions to keep her from touching ANYTHING...especially the floor!
3. I help Charlotte use the toilet.
4. My turn!
5. Charlotte and I wash hands.
6. I take Hannah so Isaiah can wash his hands. (In retrospect this should have been #2. Hindsight is always 20/20.)
7. I change Hannah's diaper.
8. Turn around to discover Charlotte playing with the soggy toilet paper on the floor next to the toilet...
9. Vomit a little.
10. Hand Hannah back to Isaiah so Charlotte and I can re-wash our hands for a looooong time.

Easy peasy.

Oh and Charlotte came down the slide like a big girl with only a few tears:)

Home.Sweet.Home.

 

11 days and {approximately} 1500 miles later we are finally home! It was a great trip but home is pretty great too:) Especially being reunited with Joe. The kids appreciate seeing him in person and not just on the 'puter.

Now I feel like we are detoxing. Back to reality. Post-holiday blahs.

The kids are missing their all-you-can-eat snack buffet and movie marathon that 4 days of driving provides! (Minus the driving and confinement I kind of miss it too...kind of.)

The kids are missing having a whole mess of cousins to play with. And wide open spaces to explore. And fun holiday activities. And doting grandparents. And tractor rides.

 

 

 

 

I miss all those things too. Plus I miss having long {mostly} uninterrupted adult conversations. And big meals that were prepared as a group. And playing cards while kids and babies slept. I miss being together as a family.

But home is good too. Once we get back into our routine that is...



Oh and today we start our next adventure...cloth diapering. 

We made it!!!

After 17 hours in the van we arrived in {cold, snowy} South Dakota! Thankfully the drive went without major incident. The kids were troopers. And I only felt like I was going crazy once...at about the 14 hours of driving point:) Luckily Grandma Donna was able to take over kid duty at that moment.

Since then we have been playing and eating...a lot! Cousins are running around enjoying themselves and grown ups are sitting around enjoying themselves:) Well not everyone...Luke is working hard around the clock with all his birthing cows!

Isaiah has taken on the role of Uncle Luke's ranch hand. It's a tough job but someone has to do it:)

We are anticipating the arrival of the rest of the family later this week. More cousins. More fun to come!